Man killed in Blyth fire named as Jason Lockwood

Nordale House, on Cowpen Hall Road in Blyth, the scene of a fatal fire

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DETECTIVES probing the murder of a man found dead after a fire in his flat have today released his name

Jason James Lockwood was pronounced dead at the scene of the blaze, in Blyth, on Tuesday morning.

Shocked neighbours watched on as a Mr Lockwood was pulled from his flat by firefighters.

And the 40-year-old was pronounced dead after he was found by emergency services following the small fire at his ground-floor home, in Blyth, Northumberland, on Tuesday morning.

Detectives from Northumbria Police’s Major Crime Team are now quizzing two local men, aged 28 and 23, arrested on suspicion of murder.

Police have not yet confirmed the exact cause of death.

Residents of Nordale House, the block where the victim lived on Cowpen Hall Road, were evacuated after the blaze was reported.

And today as they wait to find out when they will be allowed back into their homes, which were still sealed off with police tape, neighbours told of their shock at hearing there had been a murder in their block.

Joanne Lilico, 26, who lives in the flats, was at home when the fire broke out. She said: “The police and the fire brigade told us to get out then we saw them drag the man out. They were working on him for ages.”

“There were no flames, just smoke. I do feel quite lucky with it being in the same block. But we have got no idea when we will get back in.

Joanne said she believed the man who died was called Jason.

He had only lived at the flats for a couple of months, but was a quiet and friendly neighbour.

Emergency services were called to the flats after a neighbour reported hearing a smoke alarm and seeing smoke.

Firefighters forced their way into the home shortly after 11.30am.

Mam-of-two Pauline Maddison saw clouds of thick black smoke flood from the building after rescuers smashed their way in

The 25-year-old said: “I couldn’t see any flames, it was just smoke coming out after the firefighters opened the windows.

“I saw them bring him out and they were working on him on the street. It was quite traumatic.”

A 17-year-old neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said police had to hang sheets on bins to prevent a small crowd of young children that had gathered nearby watch attempts to save the man’s life.

He said: “They were doing CPR on his chest. They were trying to resuscitate him for about an hour.

“It’s a shock to think it could be murder.”

Yesterday the entire block was still cordoned off with police tape while uniformed officers stood guard.

And Det Chief Insp Ian Bentham, who is leading the investigation, said he would like to hear from anyone with information about the death.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: “A 28- year-old Blyth man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Inquiries are ongoing and police are continuing to appeal for information.”